This content is not included in
your SAE MOBILUS subscription, or you are not logged in.
Low-Temperature Ethanol Reforming: A Multi-Cylinder Engine Demonstration
Technical Paper
2011-01-0142
ISSN: 0148-7191, e-ISSN: 2688-3627
Annotation ability available
Sector:
Language:
English
Abstract
It has been previously reported that ethanol can be reformed at
around 300°C to a mixture of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and methane
using copper-plated nickel catalyst. This low reforming temperature
enables heat to be supplied from the engine exhaust.
Single-cylinder engine testing demonstrated that this gaseous
mixture of "ethanol reformate" enhances engine combustion
and part load dilution capability, which decreases fuel consumption
while also reducing feedgas NOx emissions. In addition,
excellent cold start capability with significantly reduced
hydrocarbon emissions was observed. Thus, ethanol reformate has the
potential to address two major barriers to wider use of ethanol as
an engine fuel: ethanol's low heating value per volume and
higher hydrocarbon emissions at startup relative to gasoline.
In this study, the dilute capability of a multi-cylinder engine
was assessed using a mixture of 50% reformate and 50% E85 on a mass
basis at several key part load operating points. A strategy
combining lean-burn with internal residual dilution was used to
maximize thermal efficiency while maintaining adequate exhaust gas
temperature for reformer operation. The resulting feedgas
NOx emissions are low enough to enable the use of a
reasonably sized lean NOx trap with low regeneration
frequency for minimal impact to the fuel consumption benefit.
Cold start testing at 20°C showed that 50% reformate mass
fraction is sufficient to provide significantly reduced start-up
emissions and fuel consumption compared to an E85 baseline. The
retarded spark timings incorporated in the test engine's
production calibration enabled 300°C exhaust temperatures for
three-way catalyst light-off after 15 seconds of operation. The
results indicate that a reasonably sized reservoir tank could
supply enough reformate for vehicle start.
While most of the results of this study were acquired using
simulated ethanol reformate from gas bottles, data at one part-load
engine operating point was obtained using a working prototype
reformer utilizing engine exhaust heat.
Recommended Content
Authors
Topic
Citation
Wheeler, J., Stein, R., Morgenstern, D., Sall, E. et al., "Low-Temperature Ethanol Reforming: A Multi-Cylinder Engine Demonstration," SAE Technical Paper 2011-01-0142, 2011, https://doi.org/10.4271/2011-01-0142.Also In
References
- Ivanič, Ayala, F. Goldwitz, J. Heywood, J. “Effects of Hydrogen Enhancement on Efficiency and NO x Emissions of Lean and EGR-Diluted Mixtures in a SI Engine,” SAE Technical Paper 2005-01-0253 2005 10.4271/2005-01-0253
- White, C. M. Steeper, R. R. Lutz, A. E. “The hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine: a technical review” Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 31 1292 1305 2006
- Alger, T. Gingrich, J. Gangold, B. “The Effect of Hydrogen Enrichment on EGR Tolerance in Spark Ignited Engines,” SAE Technical Paper 2007-01-0475 2007 10.4271/2007-01-0475
- Cracknell, R.F. Kramer, G.J. Vos, E. “Designing Fuels Compatible with Reformers and Internal Combustion Engines,” SAE Technical Paper 2004-01-1926 2004 10.4271/2004-01-1926
- Hirota, T. “Study of the Methanol-Reformed Gas Engine,” JSAE Review 1981 4 7 13
- Yamaguchi, I. Takishita, T. Sakai, T. Ayusawa, T. Kim, Y.K. “Development Research on Dissociated Methanol Fueled Spark Ignition Engine,” SAE Technical Paper 852201 1985 10.4271/852201
- Pettersson, L. Sjöström, K. “An Experimental and Theoretical Evaluation of the Onboard Decomposed Methanol Spark-Ignition Engine,” Combust. Sci. and Tech. 1990 71 129 43
- Manzolini, G. Tosti, S. “Hydrogen Production from Ethanol Steam Reforming: Energy Efficiency Analysis of Traditional and Membrane Processes Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 33 5571 82 2008
- Park, C. Choi, Y. Kim, C. Oh, S. Lim, G. Moriyoshi, Y. “Performance and Exhaust Emission Characteristics of a Spark ignition Engine Using Ethanol and Ethanol-reformed Gas,” Fuel 89 2118 25 2010
- Morgenstern, D.A. Fornango, J.P “Low-Temperature Reforming of Ethanol over Copper-Plated Raney Nickel: A New Route to Sustainable Hydrogen for Transportation,” Energy and Fuels 19 2005 1708 16
- Hoffmann, W. Wong, V.W. Cheng, W.K. Morgenstern, D.A. “A New Approach to Ethanol Utilization: High Efficiency and Low NO x in an Engine Operating on Simulated Reformed Ethanol,” SAE Technical Paper 2008-01-2415 2008 10.4271/2008-01-2415
- Wheeler, J.C. Stein, R.A. Morgenstern, D.A. “High Efficiency, Low Feedgas NO x , and Improved Cold Start Enabled by Low-Temperature Ethanol Reforming,” SAE Int. J. Engines 3 1 529 545 2010 10.4271/2010-01-0621
- Lupescu, J.A. Chanko, T.B. Richert, J.F. DeVries, J.E. “Treatment of Vehicle Emissions from the Combustion of E85 and Gasoline with Catalyzed Hydrocarbon Traps,” SAE Int. J. Fuels Lubr. 2 1 485 496 2009 10.4271/2009-01-1080
- Theis, J. Lupescu, J. Ura, J. McCabe, R. “Lean NO x Trap System Design for Cost Reduction and Performance Improvement,” SAE Technical Paper 2006-01-1069 2006 10.4271/2006-01-1069
- Stein, R.A. Galietti, K.M. Leone, T.G. “Dual Equal VCT - A Variable Camshaft Timing Strategy for Improved Fuel Economy and Emissions,” SAE Technical Paper 950975 1995 10.4271/950975
- Stein, R.A. Chou, T. Lyjak, J.C. “The Combustion System of the Ford 5.4L 3-Valve Engine” Global Powertrain Congress 2003
- Jung, H.H. Stein, R.A. Leone, T.G. “Comparison of Dual Retard VCT to Continuously Variable Event Valvetrain” SAE Technical Paper 2004-01-1268 2004 10.4271/2004-01-1268
- Lymburner, J.A. McCabe, R.W. Theis, J.R. “Fuel Consumption and NOx Trade-offs on a Port-Fuel-Injected SI Gasoline Engine Equipped with a Lean-NOx Trap” DEER Conference 2009
- “Standard Test Method for Heat of Combustion of Liquid Hydrocarbon Fuels by Bomb Calorimeter,” ASTM International D 240 2009
- Tsunooka, T. Hosokawa, Y. Utsumi, S. Kawai, T. Sonoda, Y. “High Concentration Ethanol Effect on SI Engine Cold Startability,” SAE Technical Paper 2007-01-2036 2007 10.4271/2007-01-2036
- Aikawa, K. Sakurai, T. Hayashi, A. “Study of Ethanol-Blended Fuel (E85) Effects Under Cold-Start Conditions,” SAE Int. J. Fuels Lubr. 2 1 196 203 2009 10.4271/2009-01-0620
- Shelby, M.H. Stein, R.A. Warren, C.C. “A New Method for Accurate Accounting of IC Engine Pumping Work and Indicated Work,” SAE Technical Paper 2004-01-1262 2004 10.4271/2004-01-1262